Chamber leaders optimistic at 95th annual meeting

Monday

Feb 25, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Local business leaders believe Spartanburg County is moving in the right direction. Their optimism was evident Monday night during the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce's 95th Annual Meeting held in the Heritage Ballroom at the downtown Spartanburg Marriott.

By TREVOR ANDERSONtrevor.anderson@shj.com

Local business leaders believe Spartanburg County is moving in the right direction.Their optimism was evident Monday night during the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce's 95th Annual Meeting held in the Heritage Ballroom at the downtown Spartanburg Marriott.The chamber honored the county's top professionals from 2012 and discussed highlights from a year that eclipsed the mark set in 2008 for economic development, with 109 new projects worth more than $1 billion in capital investment and nearly 1,200 jobs.“We're in motion and that is so true on every front,” said David Cordeau, president and CEO of the Spartanburg Chamber. “It's our job collectively to keep that momentum going.”Sheila Breitweiser, vice president and executive director of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, received the Neville Holcombe Distinguished Business Person of the Year award, the chamber's top honor.Breitweiser joined a distinguished list of local business leaders who have won the award, including Bill Cobb, Bernie Brooks, Roger Milliken, John Poole, Bill Barnet, George Dean Johnson and Jerry Richardson.“It's very humbling,” Breitweiser said. “I don't think that I belong on that level.”During her acceptance speech, the Scranton, Pa. native quoted the great 20th Century activist Hellen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Breitweiser has served as Foundation Executive Director since May 2008. She also serves as the senior member of the Foundation's development and operations.Her previous experience includes many years of service as a public school educator and administrator. She is married to retired Habitat for Humanity executive Bob Breitwieser.“Having the award inspires me to work harder and to do better,” Breitweiser said. “I really do mean it. I am appreciative of how much we can do when we pull together. It's all about teamwork.”“I'm so proud of her,” said Bob Breitweiser. “She has a knack for connecting people.”Joe Salley, president and CEO of Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co., served as the keynote speaker during Monday's meeting. He spoke about the company's approach to innovation, leadership model and transforming environments.“Milliken has been a part of the fabric of this community for quite some time,” Salley said. “We're all about innovations that do good.”Sue Schneider, chamber board chairwoman and general manager for Spartanburg Water, discussed the chamber's plan of action for 2013. The plan includes fostering economic growth, developing the county's workforce, career exploration, strategic marketing and communications, improving connections for chamber members, beefing up the tourism sector and advocating for Spartanburg in the political relm.In other action:Hospice Care of South Carolina was named as the James B. Thompson Small Business of the Year.Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands South Carolina was given the Duke Energy Community Service Award.

Karen Knuckles was honored as the chamber's Volunteer of the Year.The Spartanburg County Parks Department and City of Spartanburg Special Events staff received the Tourism Ambassador award.AFL Telecommunications won the Economic Futures Award on the back of its $8.6 million expansion this year that created more than 100 jobs.Teacher of the year awards included Erin Grambling of Chapman High School, Windy Hodge of Boiling Springs High School, Myra Elvington of Broome High School, Melinda Crocker of Woodruff High School, Mollie Wheeler of River Edge Elementary, Lanetra Ebron of Woodland Heights Elementary, Angela Duckworth of the McCarthy Teszler School. Lee Vasbinder of the Spartanburg Day School was awarded the Larrabee Endowed Chair and Cindy Watson was named teacher of the year for the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind.For more information, visit: www.spartanburgchamber.com.